Patricia Bentley

            Patricia was born to Allene Orcutt Grant & William Judson Grant on July 21, 1927 in Kern County.  Her mother, Allene, was a nurse, and her father was the supervising mechanic at the Belridge Oil Lease.  She was an only child, as her brother died at birth.  She attended a one-room schoolhouse where she learned from older children and taught the younger ones.  She learned to swim and play tennis on the community grounds.  Later, when she attended Bakersfield High School, she lived with her great aunts, Anne & Mary Ellen O’Brien.  After attending the local community college, she transferred to Cal Berkeley where she received a degree in History, along with a teaching credential.  She pledged Alpha Omicron Pi and enjoyed living in the sorority.  Upon graduation, she married a Phi Delta Theta, Robert Bentley.  They raised three children in the Lafayette School District.  Pat Bentley was PTA president at Vallecito Elementary School & worked with the school board to advance and improve the academic curriculum.

In 1968, Pat went to work for the Berkeley District Attorney’s Office.  While in Berkeley, she witnessed several political movements, such as People’s Park and Vietnam War protests.  Later, she was asked to manage the entire support staff for Superior Court in Oakland.  She retired in 1993 after 25 year

In retirement, Pat loved to travel and took many memorable trips with friends and family.  She also became very active in the local chapter of the AAUW and made very close friends in her Tuesday bridge group.

She was a generous and loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother and we will all miss her bright eyes, sharp mind, and beautiful smile.  She leaves behind two sons, Grant Patrick Bentley (Yvonne), and William Clyde Bentley (Angelina).  She leaves behind one daughter, Linda Bentley Jones (Jeffrey).  She also leaves behind seven grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

She will be laid to rest at the Oakmont Memorial Park in a private ceremony.  Any contributions to her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Alzheimer’s Association.